One evening at Randalls, Frank and Emma become determined to set up an evening for a real dance. Mr. Woodhouse is naturally against such a scheme for reasons of health, but the Westons are quite for it as they measure rooms to decide their suitability and the number of couples wanted. Late the next morning Frank arrives at Hartfield to announce that the dance will be held at the Crown Inn. When Mr. Woodhouse argues against the place, Frank adroitly answers his objections and takes Emma off to the Crown, which the Westons are inspecting. "They can do nothing satisfactorily without you," he tells Emma. After they have really settled the questions about using the place, Frank suggests that they need "a large council," which should include Miss Bates. This leads to his going for both the aunt and the niece. Since Frank has written the Churchills for permission to extend his visit a few days, everything for the dance seems to be in order, especially for the Westons, who note that Frank has "secured" Emma for the first two dances.
Word comes that Frank may stay longer, and Emma is now certain of her ball except for "Mr. Knightley's provoking indifference about it," an indifference much in contrast to Jane's animated hopes for the social event.
